Bulk removal tools



Jan. 28, 1964 Filed Feb. 8, 1962 B. F. PRATT BULK REMOVAL TOOLS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. BANCROFT F. PRATT UM 1M ATTORNEY Jan. 28, 1964 B. F. PRATT 3,119,596

BULK REMOVAL TOOLS Filed Feb. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BANCROFT F. PRATT y u WW ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice A 3,119,596 Federated Jan. 28, 1964 3,119,596 BULK REMQVAL TOOLS Bancroft F. Pratt, 214 Billings St, Quincy, Mass. Filed Feb. 3, 1952, Ser. No. 171,864 Claims. (Cl. 254-1315) The present invention is concerned with bulk removal tools e.g. shovels, snow shovels, pitch forks, etc., and more particularly with improved tools of this nature.

One object of the present invention is to provide bulk removal tools which, when loaded, may be elevated to a pitching position, without requiring bending on the part of the operator.

Qther objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which are emplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views, illustrating the operation of a preferred shovel within the scope of the invention and FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are perspective views, illustrating the operation of another preferred shovel within the scope of the invention.

In general the bulk removal tools of this invention comprise a body portion for carrying bulk material; a handle portion connected to and extending rearwardly from said body portion and underlying elevating means pivotally attached to the forward portion of said tool and more preferably to the body portion thereof. The elevating means is pivotally attached in such a manner that the body portion of said tool may be pivoted from a first loading position, wherein the upper plane of said body portion forms an obtuse angle with the ground in front of it, to a second loading position wherein said plane is substantially horizontal, and then to at least a first elevated position and more preferably to the first and second elevated positions.

In general the handle and body portions of the tool are of conventional construction. Usually the body will comprise a fiat sheet of material which is adapted to hold bulk material. When desired, however, it may be forklilre or of other suitable shape. In general the elevating means comprises an elongated rigid frame which is pivotally attached by its forward end to the forward portion of the tool. The rigid frame, on extending rearwardly from its pivotal attachment, bears in turn a rigidly attached pivoting or base member which is adapted to engage the ground when the tool is in first and second loading positions and (2) a foot-engaging crossbar member which is rigidly attached to the rear terminal end of said frame and which lies in an elevated plane in relation to said pivoting member when said tool is in first and second loading positions. In a preferred embodiment the foot engaging member lies in a plane just under the handle of said tool and engages and supports said handle during the loading steps.

In use, the tool is pushed forward until the body portion is filled. The handle is first depressed to first engage the cross bar member (if not already engaged) and then depressed further to bring the body portion into a horizontal plane (second loading position). When the tool has reached the second loading, the operator places his foot on the foot-engaging member and depresses it to the ground so that the body portion is raised to a first elevated position and rests on a base bound by the footengaging member and the pivoting member. With the foot still on the foot-engaging member, the tool may be raised to its second elevated position by pulling the handle rearwardly so that the tool rests on a base comprising the foot-engaging member alone. During the second elevating step the foot holds the foot-engaging member at a fixed position on the ground but allows said foot-engaging member to be rotated within the fixed position. In the second elevated position the operator can reach the front portion of the handle without stooping and pitch the bulk material to the desired area.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention the ele vating means consists of an elongated rigid frame comprising first and second longitudinal side members, the forward ends of which are pivotally attached to side portions of the body of the tool. Each side member, at the same distance from its pivoted attachment to the body, bears a pivoting member and terminates in a foot-engaging crossbar member which also joins the rear terminal ends of said side members. When desired the pivoting members may also be joined through a crossbar.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown in operation a preferred shovel within the scope of this invention. In general said shovel comprises a body or bulk-carrying portion 2 and a handle 4 which is attached to and extends rearwardly from said body portion 2. Said handle 4 bears on its rear terminal end a crosshandle 6. The underlying elevating means comprises first and second longitudinal side members 8 whose forward ends are pivotally attached to side portions 12 (far side not shown) of the body 2. The longitudinal side members 8 terminate rearwardly at a foot-engaging, crossbar member 19 which also serves to join the rear terminal ends of said longitudinal side members 8. At the same distance from their pivotal attachments the side mem bers 3 are fixedly attached to downwardly extending legs 14 whose lower terminal ends bear and are joined through a pivoting or base member 16. When the tool is in a first loading position as shown in FIG. 1 the foot-engaging crossbar member if) lies in an elevated plane in relation to said pivtonig member 16. When desired, the fixed relationship of the members of the elevating means may be reinforced by use of struts 18 which joins the lower terminal ends of the legs 14 and the rear terminal ends of the side members 8. When desired, other struts may be used for further reinforcement.

Still referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, when in use, the shovel is pushed forward until the body portion 2 is filled. In a preferred use the rear portion of the handle 4 is first depressed so that the body portion 2 is raised to a horizontal position through the pivoting action of the pivoting member 16. The operator then places his foot on the foot-engaging, crossbar, member 10 and depresses it to the ground. When the foot-engaging cross-bar member is depressed completely to the ground (FIG. 2) the body portion 2 is elevated to a first elevated position and rests on a stand bound by the foot-engaging crossbar, member 1d and the pivoting member in. The body portion 2 may then be raised to a second elevated position (FIG. 3) by holding the foot-engaging member Iii in a fixed position on the ground by the use of the foot and pulling the handle 4 rearwardly until the body portion lies on a base comprising the foot-engaging member Ill alone. When the body portion 2 is in the second elevated position, the operator may reach the forward portion of the handle 4 and pitch the bulk material without stooping.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 there is shown the operation of another preferred tool within the scope of the invention. In general said tool comprises a body or bullocarrying portion 2 and a handle 4 which is attached to and extends rearwardly from said body portion 2 and terminates in a cross-handle 6. The underlying elevating means comprises first and second longitudinal members which in this embodiment comprise first or horizontal members 22 and second or upwardly extending members 26. The forward terminal ends of the horizontal members 22 are pivotally attached to side portions 20 of the body 2. The rear terminal ends of the horizontal members 22 are joined to the upwardly extending members 26 and the angle formed by the juncture comprises the pivoting members 24. As will be understood this angle may be varied over a wide range. In a preferred embodiment it will be slightly obtuse e.g. 90120. When desired the angle of the pivoting member 24 may be fixed by running reinforcing members (not shown) from the upwardly extending members 26 to the horizontal members 22. Also sleeves may be placed around the juncture for this purpose. Such sleeves would also serve to protect against abrasion during use. The upper terminal ends of the upwardly extending members 26 terminate in and are joined through a foot-engaging, crossbar member 28. The shovel shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 is used in substantially the same manner as that shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. When filled the rear portion of the handle 4- is depressed so that the body portion is raised to a horizontal position. The foot-engaging, crossbar member 28 is then fully depressed to the ground so that the body is raised to a first elevated position (FIG. and rests on a base bound by the foot-engaging member 28 and the pivoting members 24 (also by upwardly extending members 26). The body portion 2 may be raised to second elevated position by holding the foot-engaging member 28 in a fixed position on the ground and pulling the handle rearwardly until said body portion 2 rests on a base comprising the foot-engaging member 28 alone.

The underlying elevating means of this invention are preferably constructed from light weight structural material such for example as aluminum tubing and strip stock which add little appreciable weight to that of the bulk removal tools. Generally the ease of use will far outweigh any slight increase in weight.

In the preferred embodiment shown above the elevating means comprises first and second longitudinal side members. It should be understood that when desired a single longitudinal member may be employed and such single longitudinal member may be pivotally attached to the middle rather than side portions of the body. Such a single longitudinal member will bear the pivoting member and foot-engaging member in a manner similar to that employed by the first and second longitudinal members e.g. crossbars held just from the middle rather than from both ends.

When desired, means for moving the tool e.g. wheels, runners, skis, etc. may be attached to the portions of the pivoting means which engage the ground during the loading step.

In the above demonstrations of the use of the tools of this invention, a second loading step was employed in which the body portion of the tool was brought into a horizontal position by depressing the handle. This step insures that the bulk material will not be spilled during the subsequent elevating steps. It should be understood that when desired this step may be eliminated and the operator may proceed from the first loading step directly into the first elevating step. Also when the tool is at a sufiicient height after the first elevating step, the second elevating step may also be eliminated.

The elevating means are preferably pivotally attached to the forward portion of the tools by attachment means whereby said elevating means may be readily removed and the tool used without said elevating means. Also friction washers are preferably used in the pivotal attachment so that the movement of the elevating means may be controlled in the pitching or shovel emptying step.

As set forth above, the foot-engaging, crossbar member lies in an elevated plane in relation to the pivoting member when the tool is in the first and second loading positions. In a preferred embodiment of this invention said foot-engaging member also lies slightly to the rear of said pivoting member, preferably before but at least after the second loading step. This rearward positioning greatly eases the depression of the foot-engaging member during the first elevation step.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that in a preferred embodiment of the invention the foot-engaging member 18 also serves to support the handle 4 during the loading steps. When desired a jaw-shaped snatch clamp (not shown) may be attached to the underside of the handle 4 to temporarily hold the foot-engaging member 16 in this position and thus also temporarily anchor the whole elevating means.

Still referring to FIG. 1, it can also be seen that the footengaging member 10 may also serve to set the pitch of the body portion 2 during loading. When desired the foot-engaging member 10 may have a recess therein so that the handle 4 may be lowered further thus altering the pitch of the body portion 1. It will be noted that such a recess will not interfere with the full depression of the foot-engaging member because it will rotate from about a vertical plane to about a horizontal plane during said depression.

In the above embodiments the elevating means are pivotally attached to the body portion of the tool. It should be understood that when desired the elevating means may be pivotally attached to the forward portion of the handle.

In constructing the tools of this invention it will be understood that the lengths and positioning of the members will be such so as to take advantage of what is known in the leverage art.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description (or shown in the accompanying drawings) shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A bulk removal tool which can be elevated to a pitching position without requiring stooping on the part of the operator, said tool comprising a body portion for holding bulk material; a handle which is attached to said body portion and extends rearwardly therefrom; and elevating means, said elevating means com-prising first and second longitudinal side members, the forward terminal ends of said first and second side members being pivotally attached to the forward portion of said tool, the rear terminal ends of said side members hearing and being joined through a fixedly attached, footengaging, crossbar member, said side members bearing at a point along their length, equidistance from their pivotal attachments a fixedly attached pivoting member, said pivoting member engaging the ground when said tool is in loading position and said foot-engaging member lying in an elevated plane in relation to said pivoting member when said tool is in loading position; whereby when said foot-engaging member is depressed, said body portion is raised from the loading position to a first elevated position and rests on a base bound by said footengaging member and said pivoting member.

2. A bulk removal tool which can be elevated to a pitching position without requiring stooping on the part of the operator, said tool comprising a body portion for holding bulk material, a handle which is attached to said body portion and extends rearwardly therefrom and an elevating means, said elevating means comprising first and second longitudinal side members, the forward terminal ends of said side members being pivotally attached to the forward portion of said tool and the rear terminal ends of said side members bearing and being joined through a fixedly attached foot-engaging crossbar member, said side members bearing, at a point along their length equidistance from their pivotal attachments, fixedly attached downwardly extending legs, said legs on their lower terminal ends and bearing and being joined through a fixedly attached pivoting member, said pivoting member engaging the ground when said tool is in loading position and said foot-engaging member lying in an elevated plane in relation to said pivoting member when said tool is in loading position, whereby when said footengaging member is depressed, said body portion is raised from the loading position to a first elevated position and rests on a base bound by said loot-engaging member and said pivoting member.

3. A bulk removal tool which can be elevated to a pitching position without requiring stooping on the part of the operator, said tool comprising a body portion for holding bulk material, a handle which is attached to said body portion and extends rearwardly therefrom and an elevating means, said elevating means comprising first and second longitudinal side members, said side members having horizontal and upwardly extending portions, the forward terminal ends of said horizontal portions being pivotally attached to the forward portion of tool, the rear terminal ends of said horizontal portions being joined with the lower terminal ends of the upwardly extending portions, the juncture of said horizontal portions and said upwardly extending portions constituting a pivoting member, the upper terminal ends of said upwardly eX- tendi-ng portions bearing and being joined through a fixedly attached foot-engaging crossbar member, said pivoting member engaging the ground when said tool is in loading position and said foot-engaging member lying in an elevated plane in relation to said pivoting member when said tool is in loading position, whereby when said footengaging member is depressed, said body portion is raised from the loading position to a first elevated po- 6 sition and rests on a base bound by said foot engaiging member and said pivoting member.

4. A tool as defined in claim 3 wherein said juncture comprises an angle between about 90 to 120.

5. A bulk removal tool which can be elevated to a pitching position without requiring steeping on the part of the operator, said tool comprising a body portion for holding bulk material, a handle which is attached to said body portion and extends irearwardly therefrom and an elevating means, said elevating means comprising a longitudinal member, the forward terminal end of said longitudinal member being pivotally attached to the forward portion of said tool, the rear terminal end of said longitudinal member bearing and being joined to a fixedly attached foot-engaging crossbar member, said longitudinal member hearing at a point along its length a fixedly attached downwardly; extending leg, said leg on its lower terminal end bearing a fixedly attached pivoting member, said pivoting member engaging the ground when said tool is in leading position and said loot-engaging member lying in an elevated plane and to the rear of said pivoting member 'when said tool is in loading position, whereby when said foot-engaging member is depressed, said body portion is raised from the loading position to a first elevated posit-ion and rests on a base bound by said foot-engaging member and said pivoting member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,035,816 Conant May 22, 1962 

1. A BULK REMOVAL TOOL WHICH CAN BE ELEVATED TO A PITCHING POSITION WITHOUT REQUIRING STOOPING ON THE PART OF THE OPERATOR, SAID TOOL COMPRISING A BODY PORTION FOR HOLDING BULK MATERIAL; A HANDLE WHICH IS ATTACHED TO SAID BODY PORTION AND EXTENDS REARWARDLY THEREFROM; AND ELEVATING MEANS, SAID ELEVATING MEANS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND LONGITUDINAL SIDE MEMBERS, THE FORWARD TERMINAL ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDE MEMBERS BEING PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD PORTION OF SAID TOOL, THE REAR TERMINAL ENDS OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS BEARING AND BEING JOINED THROUGH A FIXEDLY ATTACHED, FOOTENGAGING, CROSSBAR MEMBER, SAID SIDE MEMBERS BEARING AT A POINT ALONG THEIR LENGTH, EQUIDISTANCE FROM THEIR PIVOTAL ATTACHMENTS A FIXEDLY ATTACHED PIVOTING MEMBER, SAID PIVOTING MEMBER ENGAGING THE GROUND WHEN SAID TOOL IS IN LOADING POSITION AND SAID FOOT-ENGAGING MEMBER LYING IN AN ELEVATED PLANE IN RELATION TO SAID PIVOTING MEMBER WHEN SAID TOOL IS IN LOADING POSITION; WHEREBY WHEN SAID FOOT-ENGAGING MEMBER IS DEPRESSED, SAID BODY PORTION IS RAISED FROM THE LOADING POSITION TO A FIRST ELEVATED POSITION AND RESTS ON A BASE BOUND BY SAID FOOTENGAGING MEMBER AND SAID PIVOTING MEMBER. 